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Out'n'About: "Above Borders" Aerial Dance Festival

Festival introduces the art aerial dance to all

By Jocelyn Apodaca

For Pulse

Posted:
10/17/2013 01:00:00 AM MDT

Photo by Milton Adams
Project in Motion is hosting its second annual "Above Boarders" Aerial Dance Festival Friday through Sunday. Lessons, special guests, and performances are all part of the three-day festival.

Strength and art collide in the eloquent forms of fabric climbing, floor work and other movements to create aerial dance.

Inviting participants from all athletic backgrounds, Project In Motion (PIM) will host its second annual "Above Borders" Aerial Dance Fest which include workshops and performance.

Nationally renowned guests Sarah Newton, Sato, John Taylor and Sam Tribble will be instructing and helping out with conditioning, aerial fabric climbing, acro balance, single point trapeze, improvisation, rue cyr, and traveling ring through a series of workshops Oct. Friday through Sunday at Gin Studios, 430 N. Compress Road.

Photo by Samir Abady
The festival introduces those interested in paticipating in aerial dance the chance to learn from experienced artists such as Sato Barello.

The festival begins with a performance by the teachers and PIM company dancers Friday, which is a separate performance from the workshops and cost is $10. The performance is included in the tuition for those signed up for classes.

Mendoza has been practicing aerial dance for three years and will be performing in Friday's show. She recently performed for the Chalk the Block Festival in El Paso.

"I like that you can be athletic and artistic," Mendoza said.

Athleticism plays a key role in the formation of the dancer.

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"It requires a modicum of athleticism. You can't be totally out of shape," said Hilary McDaniels-Douglas, artistic director of PIM. "Its two days and they work intensely for those two days. It's a great boot camp to push people into shape."

But the instructors at PIM don't want to scare anyone away, beginners are welcome.

"I hope it doesn't intimidate but rather brings people who are curious in," McDaniels-Douglas said. "A lot of the dancers we work with are completely inexperienced in dance."

Courtesy photo Project in Motion
Sam Tribble, one of the guests who will be instructing, is performing on the rue cyr, a skill that will be taught during the festival.

Teaching the conditioning component, John Taylor will provide participants with the tools to learn how to enhance their ability to climb fabric and build strength.

Taylor has been with PIM for six months and has worked directly with the Chinese Olympic Committee, International Brazil Soccer Federation and national organizations in Japan, Ireland and Bahrain.

"It's gonna be exercise," Taylor said. "It requires a lot of physical prowess, they make it look easy but it requires dedication."

Taylor most recently worked as the Head Performance Training Professional at NMSU from 1992 to 2012.

He wants participants to know that this is an art and is much more than climbing fabric.

Courtesy photo Project in Motion
Nationally renowned performer Sarah Newton will also assist with instruction during the workshops.

"You can't climb all the time," Taylor said, "and you can't always be at the studio. There are other methods to improving, there's preparation that's required for any type of event. It requires a lot of leg, trunk and grip strength."

Auditions for an apprenticeship with PIM will follow Saturday's workshop.

"We are looking for one or two people to apprentice with the company," McDaniels-Douglas said. "It is commitment if you're going to be with the company. We want to see who is interested but also able."

In previous years PIM has taken participants from various backgrounds, including weight training.

"Ninety-five percent is showing up," said McDaniels-Douglas. "We all have opposable thumbs, we were built to climb and it's getting back to our monkey roots."

Instructor Taylor said he is looking forward to the learning exchange between he and the workshop participants.

"It's an art and it's fun," he said.

The aerial dance workshops offer a chance for those who are curious and interested to play and to learn what the essence of aerial dance really is. The conditioning element is just one component to a weekends worth of hands on instruction from some of the nation's most talented instructors.

"We have become a family from the passion of aerial dance and circus performance," McDaniels-Douglas said. "We want people to have a wonder and awe for discovering their own ability."

Jocelyn Apodaca may be reached at jocebart@gmail.com Follow her on Twitter @jocelynapodaca.

If you go

What: "Above Borders" Aerial Dance Festival Instructors Concert

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: The Gin Studios, 430 N. Compress Road

How Much: Admission is $10. High Desert Brewing Co. will be at the event selling refreshments.

Info: Call 575-208-4413 or visit www.projectinmotion.com.

If you go

What: Student Showcase

When: Saturday

Where: The Gin Studios, 430 N. Compress Road

How Much:$5

Info: Call 575-208-4413 or visit www.projectinmotion.com.

If you go

What: "Above Borders" Aerial Dance Festival

When: Friday through Sunday

Where: The Gin Studios, 430 N. Compress Road

How Much: $50 per day with Friday night level evaluations and introduction

Get your climb on: Aerial Festival Performance and Workshop for anyone who wants to climb with Project In Motion Aerial Dance Company. Followed by PIM Company Auditions, Sunday 7 to 8:30 p.m.

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